Agricultural Preservation Rules and Regulation Update
Agricultural Preservation Rules and Regulation Update
Background
Calvert County’s land preservation program preserves agricultural and forested land by providing for the transfer of development rights (TDRs) within the county. By allowing a landowner to sell the development potential of their land the program guides development away from land on which farming and forestry operations are viable, preserving the identity of rural communities. The program utilizes the free-market system to finance preservation efforts and has established the Purchase and Retirement (PAR) Fund to purchase and permanently remove TDRs from the private market, protecting additional acreage from development. The program also operates a revolving bank called the TDR Reserve to assist owners in facilitating the sale of their TDRs.
The Calvert County Agricultural Preservation Rules and Regulations govern the formation of Agricultural Preservation Districts (APDs) and the implementation and administration of the program. Under the authority of Article 2, Section 504.1 of the Annotated Code of Maryland, the Agricultural Preservation Advisory Board (APAB) reviews the Rules and Regulations as needed and recommends changes for adoption by the Board of Calvert County Commissioners.
Purpose
Between 2007 and 2012 an unbalanced supply of TDRs in the private market negatively impacted the program. As a result, the county placed a moratorium on new Agricultural Preservation District (APD) applications in 2013, which remains in effect today. In 2020 the Transferrable Development Right (TDR) Committee reviewed the program and made several recommendations for improvement, which included lifting the moratorium on the creation of new APDs once changes proposed by the APAB are adopted into the Rules and Regulations.
Originally developed in 1978 the Rules and Regulations have been amended several times but have not had a comprehensive update since the program was initiated. The Rules and Regulations are now being updated for consistency with the Comprehensive Plan and the Calvert County Zoning Ordinance to revive opportunities for additional land preservation and ensure viability of the program for future generations.
Goals
To supersede all previous versions and apply a uniform set of regulations to all APDs
To incorporate and codify policies, procedures and decisions of the Agricultural Preservation Advisory Board into a single cohesive document
To provide clarification for consistent administration of the program.
To ensure consistency with the Calvert County Zoning Ordinance and the Comprehensive Plan.
To update program eligibility criteria in preparation for lifting the moratorium on APD creation.